Nap-brushing machine.



E. F. SMITH.

NAP BRUSHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0Ec.5.19:4.

1,285,438, I Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

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EDWARD F. SMITH, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

NAP-BRUSHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

Application filed December 5, 191'4. Serial No. 875,568.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nap-Brushing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to nap brushing machines, and more particularly to a machine especially adapted for brushing and straightening up the nap of blankets and the like after they have been washed, it being, therefore, particularly well adapted for laundry use.

Among the salient objects of my invention are,to provide a machine of the character referred to into which a blanket or the like can be started and automatically fed through the machine and thoroughly brushed in a manner which will straighten the nap and give a new and fluffy appearance to the blanket as it passes through the machine; to provide in a machine of the character referred to means for drawing off the loose nap and lint during the operation of the machine, and therefore preventing its escape into the atmosphere of the room; to provide .a simple and efficient mechanism for feeding the blanket through the machine, with the brush-operating mechanism geared to a speed in relation thereto which insures that every part of the blanket will be repeatedly brushed and the nap properly straightened out before it passes beyond the brushes; to

provide in a machine of the character referred to an adjustable brushing table whereby it is easy to hold the blanket in proper relationship to the brushes to get the best results; and, in general, to provide a simple and efficient machine which will quickly and economieallybrush a blanket after it has been washed without damage thereto.

In order that others may thoroughly understand my invention, I have shown one practical embodiment thereof on the accompanying sheet of drawings, which I will now describe.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention, with parts broken away to reduce'the size of the figure;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken transversel of the machine, on line 22 of Fig.1; an

,ing said table frame,

Fig. 8 is an end view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, I have provided supporting legs, as 1-'1, which may be suitably spaced and secured together in any desirable manner. Pivotally mounted in the upper part thereof, on a shaft 2, is a table frame 3, having a concaved table top or brushing top, as 4, extending throughout the length of the machine. As a means for raising and lowermembers, as 55, secured to a shaft 6, rota tably mounted in the legs 1, With an operating hand lever 7 working in a guide frame 8, whereby said table can be rocked on its shaft bearing 2 for a purpose hereinafter again referred to. Rotatably mounted upon the front top part of said supporting legs, in suitable bearing boxes 9-9, is a feed roller 10, provided with numerous small feed pins, as 11, projecting therefrom for holding and feeding'the blanket, which is designated B, through the machine.

Rotatably mounted upon said machine. in suitable bearing boxes, as 12-12, at the opposite ends thereof, is a revoluble brush member 13, comprising a shaft 13, and. a body 13", with four rows of brush bristles 13, extending throughout the length of the machine, substantially in the manner shown, said brush bristles being arranged to strike the blanket B upon the concaved table top 1, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The shaft 13 of said brush is provided at one end with fast and loose pulleys, as 14 and 15, respectively, and at its opposite end said shaft is provided with a worm 16, and a hand wheel 17 as indicated. Said worm 16 meshes with and drives a worm-gear 18, mounted upon a short shaft 19, in a bearing box 20, and upon which shaft 19 is a beveled gear 21, adapted to mesh with a beveled gear 22, slidably keyed to a shaft 10*" of the feed roller 10, whereby said feed roller 10 can be thrown out of driving connection with the other mechanism at will by any suitable operating means connected to the clutch ring, as at 22*, of the gear 22. Thus it will be noted that the brush member 13 is driven very much faster than is the feed roller or member 10, thereby insuring a great many strokes of the brush on each part of the blanket as it advances slowly through the machine, and thoroughly brushing and straightening out I have provided cam v the nap thereof. Mounted rearwardly and above the brushing inechanism' is a hood 23, which extends downwardly into close proximity to the finish of each stroke of the brushes on the blanket, and is provided with a hinged lip, as 24-, extending the full length thereof, and is adapted to regulate the size of the .o

edge of the hood and the tabletop 4, so as to get the best suction action near the brushes. Said hood is connected at its top with a suction fan (not shown) through the pipe 25, whereby the loose nap and lint is carried off and may be discharged into a bag or other receptacle at any desired location. I prefer to divide the interior of said hood, as by partitions 2323 arranged to insure uniform suction throughout the length of the lower edge of the hood.

' I am aware that many changes can be made in the embodiment of the invention here shown forpurposes of illustration, and

I do not limit the invention to this particular form, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim,

1. A nap brushing machine of the character referred to comprising in combination a supporting structure, a brushing table having a fixed concaved upper surface extending lengthwise thereof, a revoluble feeding member extending .len hwise of said structure adjacent said brushing table, a revoluble brushing device supported lengthwise of said structure above said brushing table, means for driving said brushing device and said feeding member at different speeds, said ,brushing device being driven in the direetion-of the feed movement of the article being brushed, and adapted to engage the article against the concaved surface of said brushing table, and a suction hood extending lengthwise of said brushing table in close proximity to the article being brushed and to the revolving brushing device, purpose described. I c

A nap brushing machine of. the character referred to comprising in combination a supporting structure, a brushing table having a fixed concaved upper surface extending lengthwise thereof, a revoluble feeding member extending lengthwise of said structure adjacent said brushing table, a revoluble brushing device supported lengthwise of said structure above said brushing table.

b means for changing the space between the revolving brushing device and the concaved upper surface ofthe brushing table, means for driving said feeding member at. different speeds, [said brushing device beingdriven injthe direction of the feed movement of the article pening between the lower substantially as and for the brushing device and said bein brushed, and adapted to engage the articleagai'nstthe concaved surface of said brushing table, and a suction hood extending lengthwise of said brushing table in close proximity to the article being brushed and to the revolving brushing device, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A map brushing machine of the character referred to, comprising a supporting structure, an adjustable brushin table, having a fixed concaved upper surface, extend ing lengthwise thereof, a revoluble feeding member extending lengthwise of said structure adjacent said brushing table and adaptedto feed a blanket, orthe like, over said table, a revoluble brushing device supported lengthwise of said structure above said'table, and iprovided with a plurality of spaced rows 0 brush bristles extending lengthwise thereof, means for drivin said brushing device and said feeding niem er at di'fierent speeds, said brushing device being driven in the direction of the feed movement of the article being brushed, and adapted to engage the article against the concaved surface of; said brushing table, a suction hoodextending lengthwise of said brushing table and above the same, and means for regulating the suction action thereof in connection withsaid brushing'device, substantially a's'describe'd.

A nap brushing machine of the character shown and described comprising in combination, a supporting structure, a brushing table mounted thereon and extending lengthwise thereof, a revoluble feeding device mounted uponysai'd. structure adjacent said brushing table, in .a position slightly above and in front of the same,

whereby a blanket or other article to be" in a downwardly inclined,

brushed is fed direction from said feeding device ,on to said brushing table, a revolublebrushingdevice supported lengthwise of said structure above said table, means for driving said brushing device and said feeding member at different speeds, said brushing device being'driven in the direction of the feed movement of the article being brushed and at a high speed, and adapted to engage-the article against the surface ofsaid brushing table as said article moves downwardly in an inclined position on to said brushing table,and a sue tion hood overhanging said brushing table and said brushing device, in close proximity thereto, substantially as and for the purpose described. I I j Signed at iortland,Oregon,'.this 25th day of November, I914. EDWARD ESMITH. In presence of L. 'B. 'REEDER, G. L. LITZ'ENBERG.

Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Coininissixmer t: fatiltl,

Washington, D. G, 

